âSo the Heavenly Netâs leader is âŠâ An idea springs to Qin Yuâs mind and he gives a smile. He then comes up to the blue-clad elderâs face and sits down directly without ceremony.
The blue-clad elder laughs then slowly says: âMister Liu Xing is so mysterious, just like a hidden dragon. In 3 consecutive months, you accomplished perfectly all of the 9 gold card missions you took. When I first knew about this, I was indescribably amazed. Only afterwards did I know that it turned out the Outer Net of my Heavenly Net still had such an expert as Mister Liu Xing.â
âGold card missions? They werenât challenging at all. I so wanted to find a match but couldnât. This really âŠâ says Qin Yu very haughtily.
He does so because he wants to keep his real identity from being discovered by other people and also to define assassin Liu Xing as a top-class expert who devotes himself to martial arts and cares about nothing but martial arts.
âNot challenging at all? Could it be Mister Liu Xing has already reached the peak of the Xiantian level?â asks the blue-clad elder. Qin Yu suddenly gives a ha-ha laugh and says: âGrand elder, you would know after testing a bit, right? Itâs really hard to meet an expert of your caliber.â
As he finishes saying, he suddenly attacks with his right hand.
Since he was little, Qin Yu has trained his fingersâ strength and, at the same time, their flexibility repeatedly. After many breakthroughs, today the strength of his fingers has already reached an astonishing level. He extends his right handâs forefinger, creating several tens illusions.
The blue-clad elderâs eyes brighten. He also extends his right handâs forefinger, on which a dazzling light appears.
Bang!
Finger versus finger! The fingers crash head-on. They are unexpectedly equally matched.
Qin Yu slightly curves the corners of his mouth upward. A purple beam of light suddenly shoots out from his fingertip. The blue-clad elder only feels a sharp force penetrate into his body through his fingertip. He cannot help getting shocked. He immediately withdraws his finger and, at the same time, uses the liquified Xiantian energy in his dantian to eliminate this foreign stream of energy.
âHa-ha, Mister Liu Xing is really formidable. This senile old man admires you. I really do!â The blue-clad elder laughs out loud and says at once. His eyes brighten.
Following Qin Deâs order to invite Qin Yu this time, the 1st thing he must do is determine what level Qin Yuâs power has reached. Judging from the force of this one finger strike alone, the blue-clad elder can already confirm absolutely that assassin Liu Xing before him is not weaker than him.
âYou didnât use all your power, grand elder, so my win is worthless,â says Qin Yu indifferently.
He can see that this blue-clad elder did not use his entire power. However, Qin Yu did not use all his power either. He is certain that, if he had to deal with the blue-clad elder, using only the purple Xiantian energy he has thanks to practicing the 3rd Trans-Heaven diagram he would surely be able to destroy the blue-clad elder.
âMister Liu Xing is at such a high level in power. It looks like youâre already qualified to undertake a special mission,â says the blue-clad elder mysteriously.
Qin Yu slightly narrows his eyes. He knows he is posing as assassin Liu Xing, a pursuer of martial arts and the human limits, so he says at once: âOh? You only say Iâm qualified to take this mission after testing me just now. It seems this mission is very awesome? Tell me about it.â
The blue-clad elder says mysteriously: âAwesome? Mister Liu Xing, quite a few experts who take part in this mission are on a par with you. However, joining this mission, you must forget about life and death.â
âOh?â
Qin Yuâs heart skips a beat.
He knows that, with his current power, he has made the blue-clad elder think that assassin Liu Xing is a peak Xiantian expert. However, the elder just said quite a few experts who participate in this mission are on the same level as him. Does this not clearly mean that they are also peak Xiantian experts?
âWhat is this mission? Could it be âŠâ Qin Yu secretly has a hunch.
âHa-ha ⊠using several experts like me, is there such a difficult mission? Could it be to assassinate a Shangxian?â says Qin Yu laughingly.
The blue-clad elder says with a shake of his head: âItâs not to assassinate a Shangxian, but to be a bodyguard for about a month. If youâre willing to join, during this month, youâll have to protect the client well.â The blue-clad old man stares at Qin Yu and carefully observes his reaction.
âBodyguard? Humph, youâre asking me to become a bodyguard?â says Qin Yu coldly.
The blue-clad elder says confidently: âDonât worry, Mister Liu Xing. Donât you always dislike easy missions? This mission is absolutely difficult and, moreover, the power of the prospective enemies will satisfy you. The important thing is ⊠if this mission is successful, we will give you a high Xian-grade weapon!â
High Xian-grade weapons are the top weapons in the eyes of mortals on the Qian Long continent.
As for holy weapons, generally only Xiuzhenists can have them. Qin Yu found that chunk of In-rock Flaming iron, but if it had not been for Fengyuziâs forging he would not have come into possession of his holy weapons. Therefore, how can mortals possibly obtain holy weapons? The missionâs reward of a high Xian-grade weapon as the blue-clad elder said is already extremely valuable.
Superb weapons hold an enormous attraction for martial artists so Qin Yu has to act as if his interest has been aroused.
âOhâŠâ A hint of excitement flashes in his eyes.
Seeing Qin Yuâs expression, the blue-clad elder knows he has a good chance of success. He says instantly: âMister Liu Xing, it is extremely hard to come across a mission like this. If you want to join us, then wait for me in this teahouse 3 days later. When the time comes, Iâm going to bring you along.â
âWho am I going to protect? And where are we going to go?â Qin Yu asks closely.
The blue-clad elder says with a shake of his head: âI can only tell you that the client is called Mister Ying. As for the other thing, thereâs no need for you to ask. When the time comes, youâre going to follow us.â The blue-clad old man stares at Qin Yu, waiting for his answer.
âMister Ying?â An idea springs to Qin Yuâs mind. His conjecture has been confirmed even more.
âAll right, Iâll take this mission. See you 3 days later in this teahouse.â Qin Yu gives a ha-ha laugh. His body has already flown out of the 2nd floor directly through a window. He then disappears, leaving behind several afterimages. The blue-clad elder looks at the window and nods smilingly.
******
Late at night, in the imperial study,
âYour Majesty, this is Hidden Chessmanâs secret letter.â A refined handsome middle-aged man hands over a letter. Xiang Guang, who is sitting, receives it and opens it to read the contents. He immediately frowns deeply: âWhat? Qin De is going to undergo the 4-in-9 Heavenly Tribulation and even in less than a monthâs time?â
Xiang Guangâs expression changes nonstop.
Qin De has always been his worry. If he cannot eliminate Qin De, he wil never have a peaceful day, as if there is something hard stuck in his throat forever. Moreover, today he has learned that Qin De is going to undergo the 4-in-9 Heavenly Tribulation so he has become somewhat flustered. He hopes that Qin De will fail to overcome the tribulation but he also fears that Qin De will succeed and become a Jindan stage expert.
If the latter happens, the Qin clan will have 2 Shangxian and once it rebels it will be a much bigger threat.
Xiang Guang thinks for a long time then raises his head looking at the elegant middle-aged man before him and asks: âMister Lan, in the beginning Wu Xing and Wu De made it clear that they only promised to protect us. Itâs very difficult to make them get into action. Right, has Great Ancestor given any instructions yet, Mister Lan âŠâŠ?â
With a smile, this Mister Lan takes out from his bosom a small jade bottle, puts it on the table before Xiang Guang and says: âYour Majesty, this is a Red Flourishing Pill. I believe Your Majesty also knows what Great Ancestor means.â
Hearing the 3 words Red Flourishing Pill, Xiang Guang is shocked. Then a hint of savageness appears on his face: âRed Flourishing Pill, the last Red Flourishing Pill, how could Great Ancestor give it up? Right, donât worry, Mister Lan. Please inform Great Ancestor that I definitely wonât let Great Ancestor down. Humph, Wu Xing and Wu De are really too greedy. However ⊠Qin De must be destroyed; it canât be helped.â
âI mustnât let Qin De overcome the tribulation no matter what. Otherwise theyâll have 2 Jindan stage Xiuzhenists on their side, plus the troops of the 3 Eastern region counties, so, when war breaks out, even if their rebellion fails, the Xiang clanâs vitality will suffer greatly.â Xiang Guang clenches the jade bottle in his hand.
Mister Lan slightly nods then walks out through the main entrance in a dignified manner.
By contrast, Xiang Guang spends an entire sleepless night in the imperial study. In the morning of the next day, he leaves the Imperial Palace directly with secret experts.